"If nature has destined us to be healthy, I almost dare to affirm that the state of reflection is a state contrary to nature and the man who meditates is a depraved animal" (Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, p. 42).
Introduction to Contemporary Civilization in the West
Founded in 1919 as a course on War and Peace Issues, the central
purpose of Contemporary Civilization is to introduce students to a
range of issues concerning the kinds of communities – political,
social, moral, and religious – that human beings construct for
themselves and the values that inform and define such communities; the
course is intended to prepare students to become active and informed
citizens. While readings in this one-year course change from time to
time, the factors that lead to adoption of a text always include
historical influence, the presentation of ideas of enduring
importance, and the demonstrated ability of a text to provoke
productive discussion.